Lightning: Another Climate Change Threat
Authors: Thomas G. DeLoughery, Danielle A. Cunningham
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2022)

Ideas and OpinionsNovember 2022Lightning: Another Climate Change ThreatThomas G. DeLoughery, MD and Danielle A. Cunningham, MDThomas G. DeLoughery, MDKnight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon (T.G.D.)Search for more papers by this author and Danielle A. Cunningham, MDDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (D.A.C.).Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M22-1635 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Washington DC Lightning Strike That Killed Three Offers Climate Warning—Reuters headline, 8 August 2022The recent tragedy in Washington, DC (1), reminds us that lightning strikes are a notable cause of weather-related deaths. It is estimated that lightning kills more than 6000 people each year worldwide. With climate change, lightning strikes are predicted to become more frequent, leading to a higher incidence of injury and death (2).Lightning forms in cumulonimbus clouds when the complex dynamics of hail, ice, and rain lead to polarization of different parts of the cloud. Lightning is a brief (0.01 to 0.0001 s) but very ...References1. Dickie G. Washington DC lightning strike that killed three offers climate warning. Reuters. 8 August 2022. Accessed at www.reuters.com/world/us/washington-dc-lightning-strike-that-killed-two-serves-climate-warning-2022-08-05 on 26 August 2022. Google Scholar2. Romps DM, Seeley JT, Vollaro D, et al. Climate change. Projected increase in lightning strikes in the United States due to global warming. Science. 2014;346:851-4. [PMID: 25395536] doi:10.1126/science.1259100 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Golde R, Lee W. Death by lightning. IEE Reviews. 1976;123:17. Google Scholar4. Cooper MA, Holle RL, Andrews C. Distribution of lightning injury mechanisms. Presented at 20th International Lightning Detection Conference, Tucson, Arizona, 21–23 April 2008, and at 2nd International Lightning Meteorology Conference, Tucson, Arizona, 24–25 April 2008. Google Scholar5. Cherington M, Olson S, Yarnell PR. Lightning and Lichtenberg figures. Injury. 2003;34:367-71. [PMID: 12719166] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Wilbourn AJ. Peripheral nerve disorders in electrical and lightning injuries. Semin Neurol. 1995;15:241-55. [PMID: 8570926] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. O’Keefe Gatewood M, Zane RD. Lightning injuries. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2004;22:369-403. [PMID: 15163573] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Davis C, Engeln A, Johnson E, et al; Wilderness Medical Society. Wilderness Medical Society practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of lightning injuries. Wilderness Environ Med. 2012;23:260-9. [PMID: 22854068] doi:10.1016/j.wem.2012.05.016 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Zafren K, Durrer B, Herry JP, et al; ICAR and UIAA MEDCOM. Lightning injuries: prevention and on-site treatment in mountains and remote areas. Official guidelines of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine and the Medical Commission of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (ICAR and UIAA MEDCOM). Resuscitation. 2005;65:369-72. [PMID: 15919576] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Thomas G. DeLoughery, MD; Danielle A. Cunningham, MDAffiliations: Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon (T.G.D.)Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (D.A.C.).Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M22-1635.Corresponding Author: Thomas G. DeLoughery, MD, Oregon Health & Science University, MC OC14HO, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239; e-mail, delought@ohsu.edu; Twitter: @bloodman.Author Contributions: Conception and design: T.G. DeLoughery.Analysis and interpretation of the data: T.G. DeLoughery.Drafting of the article: T.G. DeLoughery, D.A. Cunningham.Critical revision for important intellectual content: T.G. DeLoughery.Final approval of the article: T.G. DeLoughery, D.A. Cunningham.Administrative, technical, or logistic support: T.G. DeLoughery, D.A. Cunningham.Collection and assembly of data: T.G. DeLoughery.This article was published at Annals.org on 6 September 2022. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics November 2022Volume 175, Issue 11Page: 1601-1603KeywordsClimate changePreventive medicineStormsTriage ePublished: 6 September 2022 Issue Published: November 2022 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2022 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...